Vintage Antique 1938 Universal Waffle Iron Restoration / Tips
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- A review of the restoration of a vintage/antique 1938 Universal brand "low-boy" waffle iron made by Landers, Frary & Clark of New Britain, CT. Tips for cleaning, restoring, and rewiring are presented along with some history. (My brother-in-law just sent me a picture of it making it's first waffles after the restore: youtube.wardco..... )
So glad I found your video. I was gifted the same exact one, model #7154 and I had soak my plates over night with straight white vinegar and it softened the black burnt oil enough for me to then take a hand brush for my finger nails and scrub it hard. I then took my little Dremmel 4000 and used the little wire brushes and got those dimples to shine like a diamond. I was stumped as to how to get the pits out of the outer chrome, and wondered about the fine steel wool we used to use on car bumpers back in the 1950's. Glad to find the polish you used instead. I didn't take mine apart as you did, not very electrically educated in that regard. I had my new recipe for KETO waffles, "Chaffles" to make as my inspiration to clean this wonderful appliance that was Made in the USA. Thanks Ward. Regards to you, Marie
Thank you for this great video. I started disassembling my mom’s Manning Bowman Twin O Matic waffle maker. It has decades of built up crud on it and IMMEDIATELY started smoking when we turned it on. As I was taking it apart, I was alarmed at the state of the wiring. Having seen what you did with your project (and hearing your obvious expertise 👍🏽) I think I’m gonna give up and just donate this to our thrift store. I can imagine my going through this laborious process, and then being electrocuted while making a waffle . . . probably right in the middle of exclaiming something like, “Boy they do NOT make ‘em like THIS anymore, I tell ya’!”
Thank you though for sharing your effort and expertise. I hope your in-laws were ENTHUSIASTICALLY appreciative!
Peter
Birmingham, AL
Thanks Peter. They were, and I am happy to say, they are still using the maker regularly.
so glad you posted this.. I have a different model that has a removable spill catcher, but with the same jeweled light.. I've had it for almost 30 years and have been trying to figure out how to clean the waffle plates.. good to know that the internal wiring and insulation is asbestos and I'm very glad I never took it apart haphazardly.
Great video. I just found a model F9334 by Universal ,but i can't find much information about the unit. What book were you referencing for information? The unit i found is a waffle maker with no controls or power cord that is quite dirty. The newspaper it was wrapped in was from February 1996 . This is a good-looking unit with a pedistal. Thanks for any help you can offer and for sharing the video.
Hello. Great video. I have a Universal E9914H which is the poorer cousin of yours. Several of the ceramic insulating wheels were broken(good thing I took it apart) and I am also missing the proper cord. I bought a dozen old cords but they were all too narrow between the prongs.
Any chance you still have insulators?
Excellent video! I ordered one since I needed the cord for another appliance and ordering the cord with the waffle maker was just a few $$ more so I went with it. Apparently it’s from the 40s it has more of a plastic handle than yours but I’m looking forward to restoring it. Thanks again I have to check out your other videos.
Thanks Keith. Have fun!
The waffle maker model I’ve ordered is a Dominion.
You should think about perhaps doing a video on rivet replacement on these things. I’m working on restoring a toaster from the 20s and it’s all frustrating rivets. :)
I’m restoring a universal E9342A iron. It has been in my family for as long as remember. The wires to the upper element have broken and i’d like to rewire throughout. I’m not having any luck finding the wire you specified. Would you please provide a link to that wire. Thanks for your great video. It’s given me the confidence and a roadmap to my project. John
It looks like I probably bought it on eBay, but I can't be sure because their history doesn't go back that far. But there seems to be some of it advertised there if you do a search.
I started cleaning the plates of my waffle iron (I have the lower end model) before realizing what a process it would be- I don’t have access to a media blaster. The only part that the mottling is bothering me on is the part visible from the outside when the iron is shut. Any tips on how to either clean that small section entirely, or make it completely black again?
I wonder if brushing lard on there and running it repeatedly might season it black again? Unfortunately, I just didn't have a good experience with any mechanical or chemical methods besides blasting for cleaning. Of course, since you don't cook on the edge, a small wire brush on the Dremel might do the trick, and the roughness to the aluminum it would create wouldn't be a problem because you don't cook with the edge. Sorry I can't be more help.
@@WardCo Get the attachments people use to polish jewelry for the Dremel.
Lets talk about the Asbestos disk
Can it be sealed with high heat engine/stove/grill paint?
Is there another insulating product to replace it?
Would the best practice be to wet the disk with a spray bottle while handling it?
I think my answers would be:
1. I don't know! (But it sounds like a good idea.)
2. I don't know!
and
3. Absolutely. Wetting it would be smart.
I am restoring a Samson E128 lowboy waffle maker. When I took it apart to clean it, the heating coil with small mica inductor strips that are wedged into the coiled wire fell apart. I need to replace them but don’t know whether the natural mica for microwaves will work to cut out replacements. They are different thicknesses so it’s difficult to tell how to replace it. Any help you can provide please let me know.
I Googled that. It's a pretty appliance.
It is difficult for me to visualize what you are describing as the only heating elements I've run across have been made of coiled resistance wire (nichrome) supported by ceramic or porcelain insulators. Are you saying you had mica strips inserted into the windings of the coil (for support or insulation)?
Some of the mica they sell for microwaves is mica-impregnated paper. This allows them to make a sheet that is strong and can keep food out of the wave guide, but which is still transparent at microwave frequencies. It's probably not what you want. You likely want plain sheet mica which is sold as insulators or art tiles. You can stack it to get the thickness you need.
But again, I'm not an expert; just some crank on UA-cam who has restored an appliance or two. So take the above with a grain! Good luck.
Great video--beautiful restoration! How did you get the top lid off to rewire the top plate?
Thanks Matt. I don't recall doing anything special. Once the hinge and screws were out the heating plate just kind of "fell out" of the metal lid.
@@WardCo there are no screws... Do I need to drill the rivets out of the hinge? Here are some shots: photos.app.goo.gl/iSMYPqJk16LCcRRc9. The top plate no longer hearts and I need to redo the wiring
@@mattreeves7644 Man, I wish my memory was better (and I don't have mu spare parts here anymore)I did not wind up drilling out any rivets, but the unit came to me with the hinge failing and loose -- I just can't remember how! Certainly, take the screws off the handle and see if that releases things. The heating plate may have a molded tang that engages with those screws. Also, be aware there is very little wiring and thus little to go wrong up top, so suspect you'll need into the bottom too if connections/wiring have failed from years of open/close flexing. Thanks for the pix. Sorry I can't be more directly helpful.
Here is a shot of the bottom wiring:. photos.app.goo.gl/jmbcNpQHDiEYGyY17
There must be a short in the top plate because the circuitry is all complete in the bottom. The bottom plate heats up and if the top circuit was broken there be no way for electricity to get anywhere. Thanks for the help on this @wardco!
Excellent!
Glad I found this video! I just got a Landers E7534, I now have the tips to attempt a restore! Thanks!!
I have a vintage general electric waffle iron. Was my mom's she passed last year. I want to restore it and pass it to her great granddaughter who loves waffles. Would you restore it ??
No, sorry. This project was pretty much a one-off for me.
that thing fed families in the war :)
ANOTHER TRIUMPH!
Do you know I can locate the electric cord?
I'm not aware of a new source, but I'm not an expert. The style was used on a lot of appliances of the day so you can steal one from something else if the prong spacing is right. A search for "vintage appliance cord" on eBay may prove helpful.
Online is the easiest. You might want to find an old hardware store near you. One that has been in business for a Very long time. They may have one laying around or know of an old store that does. Take your waffle maker with you.
The small town I live in has a hardware store that has been in business since 1886. Someone has Always ran this store since it was started. 136 years ago (it's 2022 at this writing).
Good luck.
.
Ace Hardware
Me again. There were 5 broken insulators. Thanks
Drew
PATENT FEB. 23, 1926
MAJESTIC HOTCAKE AND WAFFLE IRON.
This thing was disgusting. I found it on its way to the dumps. I enjoy refurbishing and I love antiques. But this one took more work than anticipated. Vinager and water with a dremel. And yes, a dental tool for the grid. Tedious, time consuming, chasing rust because I havent replaced the rivets.
Excellent knowledge! Above and beyond an understanding of all aspects. A fine teacher.
Where I'm at, I turned this thing on and it's just too much unless you are very familar with it and right there ready to unplug it.
There's no limit switch or light. Just a needle gauge that reads "cold-bake-too hot"
So basically 2 cast aluminum grids, each heated by their own plates with internal heating elements, and a very hazardous GE 2 prong power cord.
Should I sell it as is? As a beautiful piece of American history? (Can't believe electrical appliances can be considered antique now)
Or should I somehow install the high limit switch and light so that it can be used safely? Altering it's original state.
So much time on this. Bur reality is, if I come across another one, I'll engage in the project again. This time with more experience.
I might want that asbestos sheet.
Are you interested restoring other people’s vintage cooking appliances?
Would be great to see a follow-up on this waffle maker make some waffles 🧇
It's still going here in Oct 2022. Have to go get my brother-in-law to make me some waffles!